I’m still relishing in the success of your wonderful performance last Sunday! Thank you to everyone who made the first concert of our 25th season so memorable.

I am extremely excited about the next cycle, as we move from new and unfamiliar music to acknowledged favorites. Marge, Rachel, and Deb are our soloists for Canticle. Bill Owens, from the West Point Band, is our cornet soloist. Emily Threinen will be coming up from Temple University to be our guest conductor for Chester. And I know the membership is excited to play Lincolnshire Posy. You can see the entire program here. You can also examinethe instrumentation here — click on the Winter Instrumentation tab at the bottom.

We will read through everything on the program on Monday. The rehearsal order is listed here. Nancy will distribute folders with all the new music in it. Trumpet, horn, and percussion parts will be distributed by the respective principals.

Thanks again for last Sunday, and get ready for Monday!

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this past Sunday’s concert a success! It has taken me a couple days to get this message out to you, because 2 of my 5 websites went down in the wake of the storm, and I only got them up and running tonight.

Troy Messner wrote to me on Sunday evening. I think this sums up the day pretty well. Troy did not mince words.

First off, what a highlight of my year yesterday was. To get back to music and purely the appreciation of the art has really recharged my batteries. Please tell the group that in all my years, I have never felt more welcomed and appreciated as a guest, that in turn, shows through the performance. For me, and the group.  Your groups value together far outweighs the sum of each individual. What a joy and fantastic experience.

Troy

Jeff Grogan was equally thrilled to be involved in Sunday’s performance. I had dinner with him Saturday evening, and he spoke about your dedication at length.

I want to especially thank Claudia for her extensive work to communicate and coordinate with the personnel to resolve issues throughout the cycle, Scott Rimm-Hewitt for coming in so willingly at the last minute to sit in for both the dress and concert, our anonymous donor for the pizza provided on Saturday, Jim & Matt for their work to recruit new businesses for ads, and the other Board members for their input and assistance. But the big thanks go to you — the pro-am players of WSW — for your musicianship and dedication to this ensemble. What we accomplished this past weekend, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, was nothing short of a musical miracle.

Rest, practice your scales and arpeggios, and we’ll see you next Monday at 7:30 pm.

Path of Olivia Newton John’s storm

Be sure to click the link below to read this entire message!

We have cancelled the rehearsal on Monday, October 29 because of the approaching storm. The combination of Hurricane Sandy and the approach of Olivia Newton John left us no choice. (Come on, you have to keep your sense of humor at a time like this!) TMH has confirmed that we have flexibility with our time on Saturday. In retrospect, it’s a good thing that we had to move to Saturday for our dress rehearsal, don’t you think?

Saturday’s rehearsal will be a combination of make-up rehearsal and dress rehearsal. In between we will take a full hour break. And we’ve learned that a generous member from the group has offered to supply lunch for everyone at the break! Thank you!

Saturday

• 11:30 am – Access to TMH. Start setting stage. Shell will be in place by Tom Thayer and his TMH crew.
• 12:00 -2:30 pm – Makeup rehearsal from Monday’s lost rehearsal
• 2:30-3:30 pm – Break and lunch
• 3:30-5:00 pm – Dress rehearsal in program order with no stops. We can leave everything in place for Sunday, as there is no event in TMH that evening.

Sunday

• 1:00 pm – Call time and sound check. Expect a light rehearsal.
• 3:00 pm – Concert

I will not be able to linger to congratulate as many people as possible as usual, as the North Jersey Band Festival was postponed from today to next Sunday at 4:30 pm. Although I don’t have to be there at the start of the Festival (even though I’m the president of the board), I do have to get going as soon as possible. The combination of two events on one day was a calculated risk — and now it’s a reality.

In all seriousness, be safe and be well until we all gather together later in the week. I am trying to get rehearsal notes posted to help us with this truncated schedule. Look for those tomorrow.

I know you’re all thinking, “Why is Curt posting a message about the dog in the upcoming production of Annie?” I only wish I were.

Jim, Rachel, and I have been communicating now for several days to watch what happens next with this storm. Please know that we will make smart choices which will attempt to guarantee our best performance on Sunday and still keep you safe. These choices are still in ‘production mode,’ until all parts are in place, so please stay tuned. Watch for an email direct from Jim, with an alternate plan should we have to cancel rehearsal on Monday. Once in place, I will also post those plans here.

Above all, make smart decisions for yourselves and your families in the next few days. I will be so grateful to see you all safe and sound very soon.